Two more AL programs opt out of fall football

Birmingham, AL – Another Alabama school district has opted to sit out the 2020 high school football season.

The Choctaw County Board of Education voted to prohibit the districts two 1A football programs, Choctaw County and Southern Choctaw, from participating in athletics for the first nine weeks of the academic year. The decision effectively cancels the schools’ football and volleyball seasons.

“I was really concerned for the well-being of our students, faculty and families in the community because we’re small here in number and the numbers are rising with the COVID-19 . . . I really was worried about the safety of our kids.” Banks told AL.com Dorothy Banks, Choctaw County Schools Superintendent

Both programs compete in Class 1A, Region 2. Choctaw County was set to open their season on the road at Flomaton, Southern would have kicked off 2020 August 21st at Washington County. The pair’s region foes – Marengo, Millry, McIntosh, Sweet Water and Fruitdale will have a couple of holes to fill but will have an easier road to the postseason.

Choctaw County closed out Gary Banks first at the helm of the Tigers at 2-8 in 2019. Southern Choctaw capped 2019 with a 4-7 record. The Indians were set to begin 2020 ranked No. 9 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s pre-season rankings.

Sumter and Greene Counties announced late last month that they will not participate in fall sports. Muscle Shoals and Deshler will delay the start of their seasons until September. Barbour County became the first Alabama school district to cancel all sports for the 2020-2021 school year.